Netball: Aussies to host Tri-Nations

A revamped version of the Tri-Nations netball series between New Zealand, Australia and South Africa was finally given the go-ahead yesterday.

Cost restraints and calendar clashes have meant that the six-match series, to be played from June 8 to 16, will be based in Australia rather than the initial proposal that two matches be played in each of the three countries.

The three teams will meet each other twice in the series, to be played in Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney.

"The timing is not ideal for us, but it's always a great challenge playing Australia, and the more times we can do it the better," Netball New Zealand operations manager Tracey Fear said yesterday.

The series follows hot on the heels of the final of the Coca-Cola Cup on May 26, which will give the Silver Ferns a short preparation time.

There had been a delay in sorting out the proposal to accommodate wishes of the three nations.

"The time was spent trying to reorganise it when we realised we couldn't do the initial concept that we had all planned," Fear said.

"Going from being in three countries to just Australia and getting agreement from all three has taken time.

"The initial vision was certainly to have it as a Tri-Nations and hold it in all three. It hasn't happened this time, but it's not to say that we won't continue to work towards it."

Fear said the Silver Ferns' big focus was next year's Commonwealth Games in Manchester and "the more preparation against Australia before then, the better."

Australia won the gold medal at the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games when they beat the Silver Ferns by three goals.

The Silver Ferns follow the Tri-Nations series with a three-test home series against England in July. They will also play Australia again, in a three-test series in New Zealand in October.

The Silver Ferns team for the Tri-Nations will be named on May 14.

TRI-NATIONS SERIES

At Melbourne: June 8, Australia v South Africa; June 9, Australia v New Zealand.

At Canberra: June 12, South Africa v NZ; June 13, South Africa v Australia.

At Sydney: June 15, NZ v South Africa; June 16, NZ v Australia.

- NZPA